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Music while riding

Discussion in 'Learner League' started by archetypicalone, May 2, 2011.

  1. archetypicalone
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    archetypicalone Member

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    Hi,

    Very new (pre) learner (going Thursday) and I have a question about music while riding. I have been reading past posts here and it seems to be quite common to do so :clap: which is awesome as I love my music lol, but I was wondering the best and safest way to get my fix. I've got a shuffle and a good pair of in-canal earphones, can I just run the cable down my arm and attach the shuffle to my glove? Or clip it inside my jacket? Or should I just enjoy the sound of the road until I'm off my p's so I'm not distracted? Being that I haven't been above 40kms yet (lol) I am wondering if my pondering is pointless - maybe u may as well listen to music as u can't hear anything else (like traffic) anyway over wind noise.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
     
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  2. Wildpig
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    Wildpig Member

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    this might just be me, but i only listen to music outside of town.. mainly cos i was riding up to an intersection once, saw a firetruck with lights approaching from another direction.. and i didn't hear it once. additionally, as a learner you got more to worry about than concentrating on music. but that just be my O-pinion
     
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  3. dennisj46
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    dennisj46 Member

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    I have a moderate hearing loss. My hearing specialist advises wearing ear plugs to reduce the overall sound level. Adding more sound to the ears may not be a good idea.
     
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  4. archetypicalone
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    archetypicalone Member

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    That's a very good point Wildpig, it'd be pretty scary to have a fire truck/ambo/etc go flying past without hearing a peep......
     
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  5. Gosling1
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    Gosling1 Forum Whore of Death Veteran Member Supporter

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    that is exactly what I do for listening to music.........but there is a time & a place for this....as this next quote sums up really nicely...


    100% true. I *never* listen to music while riding around town or the burbs - too many other things to concentrate on. Especially as a learner - you should be concentrating on these important things first...

    Once you have some experience, then listening to music on a long ride - out of town - can be really good.

    :cool:
     
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  6. Jessa
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    Jessa Member Supporter

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    I'm the same; love my music but is it worth the risk? I've decided to wait until I have a bit more experience before I ride with music. However I'm sure if the music was low and you were paying SUPER attention to the road and could still hear things around you that would take a little bit of the danger away from the situation. I tend to have my music loud in the car so I spose that's just as dangerous...?

    Jessa
     
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  7. archetypicalone
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    archetypicalone Member

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    I have my music loud in the car too, but find I can still hear most things, unless i'm singing along too :D But yeah the idea of headphones might be reserved until a later date :)

    Gosling my iPad won't let me quote 2 ppl (??) but thank u for your insight :) and I never thought about riding to work with the headphones in, but porphyriac is pretty keen to start planning sight seeing trips.........:)
     
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  8. Peanut
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    Peanut Member

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    This. Use common sense. While you're still learning and not spending too much time or get a lot of wind noise, get used to the sound of the bike and be alert. As you get more experience, and start to feel the bike you'll find what works for you.

    For me, I use Etymotic 6i noise blocking ones... They cut about 25dB (awesome!) but you can still hear all the sounds through them. I try to wear them all the time to save my hearing. I turn the music on most of the time when I feel good to a level where I can still hear the traffic, and the engine... I also turn it off if I'm feeling tired or riding in peak hour when all the loonies are out to kill me.
     
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  9. Mikey1st
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    Mikey1st Member

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    i personally listen to music 99% of the time im riding but i have headphones that velcro to the inside of my helmet which i find enough gap that i still hear everything. (few mates just run 1 earphone)
     
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  10. 2over4
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    I didn't listen to music for the first couple of years - over the last couple I listen to music 99.4% (approximately :p ) - using in ear buds - loud enough to give me some isolation but not loud enough to block out all sounds. I actually find the music increases my riding experience - though I think music makes everything seem better!
     
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  11. ms700
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    I never listen to music, i like to hear if something goes wrong with my bike, and also for emergency services.
     
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  12. Yedi
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    Yedi Guest

    For me, I don't listen to music around town (primarily because I can't be bothered getting the ear plugs in and out all the time), and only rarely do I have it on on nice twisty roads because I like the sound of my big twin carving it up :up

    But when I'm on a boring back-country highway (Monaro to Cooma for example) I'll have the music going every time, just to relieve a little of the boredom :D
     
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  13. woody500
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    Personally, I've chosen not to listen to music until I get my full license, at the earliest. There is too much going on around me to have music in my ears. I get my fix when in the car, at home, exercising, etc, so I can't say I go without. ...
     
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  14. Mustang
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    I agree. As you start riding and become familiar with the bike, you need to hear what is going on. When I first started riding I didn't have enough confidence to look down at the tacho all the time to determine when to change gears, I was too focused at looking ahead and staying upright! Becoming familiar with the sound of the engine and the revs gave me an understanding of the bike's limits.

    Music is a good addition to a long, boring, highway ride.
     
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  15. Yedi
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    Yedi Guest

    I've gotta say, the ONLY place I've ever used the tacho as an indicator of when to change gears is on the track. Otherwise it's all by feel... :D
     
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  16. Madmonk
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    I love music and have it blaring all the time except when I am on the bike. This is partially because I am a newb and want to stay focused on the road, traffic and everything around me but also cause I love the sound of my bike.

    Sometimes I will pull up at the lights or something and hear an awesome engine and after looking around to try and spot it, I suddenly realise it is me! Brings a smile to my face everytime :)
     
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  17. Mikey1st
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    My headphones are velcroed inside my helmet and a cord runs out the bottom so all you do is plug a your cord into that :) no stuffing round
     
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  18. supamodel
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    supamodel Secret Aaaaaagent Man Staff Member Moderator Supporter

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    I fkn crank the tunes whenever I can.

    It disguises the clutch noise.
     
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  19. Yedi
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    Yedi Guest

    What brand are you using? I tried a cheap and nasty pair of headphone speakers once upon a time and found that I had to turn the volume up so far it was distorting before I could hear the music, and I still had to deal with the wind noise on top...
     
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  20. Mikey1st
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    Those wernt the $4 ones off ebay were they ?? lol
    Im not sure of the brand of the ones i use i got them from CMC mitchell for $45 and they are pretty dam good quality :)
     
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